UK ambassador: We’d like Israel to do more to defeat Russia in Ukraine

It is in the national interest of Israel to help Ukraine more in the war against Russia, UK’s ambassador to Israel said on Wednesday. 

“Iran’s links with Russia threaten Israel’s national security, which is why we would like Israel to do even more to defeat the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is certainly in Israel’s national interest,” Ambassador Neil Wigan told Jerusalem Post.

The outgoing ambassador also said that the UK understands the “concern” about Russia’s army in Syria and the Russian Jewish community.

“But we clearly think it is in Israel’s national interest (to help Ukraine more). I have spoken to Israelis at length about that,” Wigan said.

Ukraine is has received humanitarian assistance from Israel during the war with Russia but Kiev is still pressing Israel to support it militarily.

Israel, which has been led by three different prime ministers since the beginning of the war last year, has been reluctant to provide military assistance to Ukraine, fearing it would endanger its close military coordination with Russia in Syria’s skies.

Israeli airstrikes, often carried out weekly, are coordinated with Russia, so as not to hit Russian troops or military bases.

Ambassador Wigan also commented on issue of the UK proscribing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, saying the government has “sanctioned 350 Iranian groups and individuals, the whole of the IRGC and many of its leaders.”

As for the issue of Iran in general, Wigan said that the cooperation between the UK and Israel is ‘really close.’

‘We’re not under any illusions when it comes to Iran. They directly threatened attacks on British soil… We are taking it very seriously.’